Buckle



Oct. 2, 41951 R, w, JOHNSON 2,569,933

' BUCKLE Filed Mrch 18, 1948 INVENTOR:

Patented ct. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES 4 2569,9.23l

BUCKLE.;

RobertW. J ohnsongfhicago, Application March 18, masts-trame. mm; 1 claim. (c1. .2te-197,)

My invention relates to buckles for garments, and more^ particularly to the typewapplied to beltsgscarves, laces, etc., and one object isto provide: abuckle which presentsl an attractive appearance while forming an1eii`1cientsecuring device; y LAifnrthenobject is to provide1ga buckle which combines a pair of unitsof Vwell known design in a manner to forman efficient securing device.

Another object is tozprovide a buckle-which needs no mechanical f contrivances `to accomplish its purpose, presentingonlyi anlornamental appearance.' f

An additional object is to design the buckle along lines of extreme simplicity and neatness.

With the above objects in view, and any others which may suggest themselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a typical belt, partly broken away, and carrying the preferred form of the buckle at the front;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevation showing one modification;

Fig. 4 is a back View of the showing in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a further modication as applied to a scarf or kerchief; and

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 'I-l of Fig. 6.

In accordance with the foregoing, reference to Fig. 1 indicates a strap type of belt at IU'. Usually, a buckle is secured to one end of such a belt, while the other end is formed either plain or with a row of holes for engagement in the buckle. In the present instance, however, the ends of the belt do not receive any device or perforation, but are left plain.

Fig. 1 shows one form of the buckle made up of a frontal loop II and a ring I2 in back of the same.k The loop I I is rectangular in form and with its length vertically directed. Thus, the loop is of sufficient length to lie against the upper and lower portions of the ring I2; and the loop has a narrow central bar I3 in adition to its regular side bars I4. The ring I2 is plain. Both the loop and the ring are of familiar design and made of flat stock, the material preferably being plastic.

As shown in Fig. 1, the application of each end portion I5 of the belt I0 to the assembly of the loop II and ring I2 is first by directing the belt section inwardly behind the correspondingly-located loop bar I4. The belt section is then trained forwardly through the related opening in the loop withzaireturnsfold? lib. whichn is..4 then .directed rearwardlyzfto threadrithroushithe, snacewbetween thegbar mand `the corresponding .sideiof .thenring 1.2i nally `issuingiirifan `outwards.directionfrom the buckles as .shoyvna-` f Primarily.r theeendrsectionssohthe beltapmied as stated make a balancedzconnection.withzttl buckle, securing engagement in the sameibymeans ofz'the side portionsf'oflthe'ringrl2: `Howeveigthe connection: is` strengthenerlfV when. `.expansive stresses are= imposedion .the :belt: In fthislevent, `the=rstzaction` ofsthefbeltiissto tug:l on lthe foldzwl 6 with-.altendencyto pulltheloopebars Mioutwardlsc This:tendency:causesithefreturn :folds `to be com',` pressed between the side bar I4 and the corresponding side of the ring I2, to the end that the belt becomes more firmly attached to the buckle. Also, in case the pressure on the belt is relaxed, the buckle will not loosen, since the loop Il is retained in the fold I6; and the shoulders I5a of the belt portions I5 prevent the ring from shifting laterally. A retentive connection is thus had between the belt and the buckle through the use of two members which are separate, yet require no hinges, fittings or means other than the belt to keep them together. Thus, no mechanical contrivance is noted on the buckle, and the same appears to al1 intents and purposes as an attractive ornament, while serving its purpose efficiently and along sound mechanical principles.

The modification of Figs. 3 to 5 employs a pair of units 20 and 2I similar to the loop Il. However, the unit 20 is of sufficient width to accommodate two internal bars 22, and these are ernployed for the folding of the belt sections. In this case the unit 2I is in the form of a rectangular ring to match the unit 20. Therefore the buckle presents only one unit when viewed from the front, indicating compactness and simplicity.

The modification of Figs. 6 and 7 is more or less a composite of the first and second forms of the invention. Thus, the original circular ring I2 is used in the rear. However, twin loops 25 and 2l are used side by side in front of the ring, such loops having medial bars 2l. Also, the loop openings outside these bars are shorter than on the inner sides, as indicated at 21a. Thus, each end portion 28 of the scarf or kerchief 29 illustrated is threaded from the rear around the corresponding bar 21 to make a return fold 30 into the related side 3| of the ring, the section continuing outwardly along the back of the same to issue as shown. The modification just described is an attractive departure from single loop buckles; and it enables each loop to be applied and adjusted independently in relation to the ring, without pulling on or in any way aiecting the adjustment of the companion loop.

It is now apparent that the novel buckle is an accessory which is primarily of an independent character, requiring no original connection with the belt, scarf or other article which it may serve. The buckle is entirely contained in the two-or three-members which assemble to receive the endportions of the belt, scarf or like article. Yet, the particular application of the belt portions to the members of the buckle causes 4 these to coact with a clamping effect on the belt which is strengthened in proportion with the expansive stresses imposed on the same. A buckle is thus had which is easily produced and applied,

inner edge of the corresponding side portion of (the rigid ring and thereby constricting the pasoperates eciently along any portion of the belt K Without extra securing devices, presents a neat and attractive appearance, and is of a nature to be formed with any number of designs.

-While I have described `the -variousl lforms of the invention along specific lines, various vmino-r changes or refinements may be made therein without departing fromiits principle, and I reserve the right to employ al1 such changes and refinements as may come Within `the scope and spirit of the appended claim.

Iclaim: i. t A buckle for garment belts or the like Whose terminal sections gather from the sides. in spaced relation, comprising a rigid ring with side portions in front of said terminal Sections, and a pair of rigid loopsdisposed in laterally, arranged relation in frontof said ring, each loop having vsage of the corresponding terminal section to the rear.

' ROBERT W. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS y Y DateV Number Name Y241,255 Wales c May 10,1881 564,399 Washburne 1' 7 July2l, 1896 728,206 Crafts May 19, `1903 1,515,412 Ritter Nov. 11,f 192 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country `Date 24,151 Great Britain of 1896 673,785 France Ocala, 1929 867,048

France June, 30,'` 19,41, 

